How to Survive the Witching Hour With a Baby

There is a very specific time of day when being a stay-at-home mom feels like a full-contact sport.

5–7pm, the witching hour.

Everyone is cranky. Dinner needs to be made. Someone needs a bath. Bedtime is coming. And somehow, your baby always seems to need you most at the exact moment you need both hands to do literally everything else.

I have been there.Those hours used to feel terrifying. I would look at the clock and think, Oh no. Here we go.

If your baby gets extra fussy in the late afternoon or early evening, you're not alone. And while you can't always make the witching hour disappear, there are a few things that can make those couple of hours a whole lot more manageable.

Put the Pacifier Within Reach

When your baby is fussy and you are trying to get dinner on the table, a pacifier can be your best friend.

The problem?

Babies are really good at dropping them. And once your baby starts getting a little more mobile, you can find yourself playing an endless game of Where did the paci go?

This is exactly why I love the Ingy Bingy Band. We didn't have the Ingy Bingy Band until our third baby, and it was such a game changer. The Ingy Bingy Band is a buttery-soft pacifier wristband that velcros around your baby's wrist and attaches to their pacifier. Instead of the pacifier disappearing every five seconds, it's right where she needs it whenever she needs it.

It's basically one less thing for Mom to keep track of during the most chaotic hours of the day.

And during witching hour? I'll take every little bit of help I can get.

Put That Baby in a Carrier

Sometimes your baby doesn't want a pacifier. They don't want to be put down and while I fully support giving your baby all the cuddles, sometimes dinner still needs to happen. That's when a baby carrier can be a lifesaver.

Put baby in the carrier, make sure they're positioned safely according to the carrier's instructions, and suddenly you have your hands back. You can prep dinner, fold some laundry, clean up the kitchen, or help an older sibling while your baby gets the closeness they were asking for.

Lower Your Expectations

This one might be the most important.

Witching hour is probably not the time to decide you're going to make a complicated Pinterest dinner, deep clean the kitchen, give everyone a luxurious bath, and have the house looking magazine-ready before bedtime.

Tonight's dinner can be frozen pizza, leftover or sandwiches and everyone will be just fine.

Change the Scenery

Sometimes a change of scenery is enough to reset everyone's mood. Go outside for a few minutes. Take a walk. You don't have to completely solve the fussiness. Sometimes you just need to interrupt the cycle.

Remember: This Is a Phase

The witching hour can feel endless when you're in it, but it isn't forever.

There will come a day when 5pm doesn't make you immediately brace yourself for battle. Your baby will grow. Their routines will change. And eventually, you'll realize you survived all those evenings.

So when 5pm rolls around and everyone starts losing it, take a breath, put the baby in the carrier, put the pacifier on the Ingy Bingy Band, make the easiest dinner you can, and give yourself permission to just get through it.

 

 

FAQ: Surviving the Baby Witching Hour

What is the witching hour with a baby?

The "witching hour" is a common term parents use for a period of increased fussiness, often occurring in the late afternoon or evening. It can be especially challenging because it overlaps with dinner, baths, bedtime, and other end-of-day routines.

Why does my baby get so fussy in the evening?

Babies can become fussier toward the end of the day for many different reasons. Hunger, tiredness, overstimulation, and simply needing extra comfort can all play a role.

What can I do when my baby won't let me put them down?

Try a baby carrier if it's appropriate for your baby's age, size, and developmental stage. A properly used carrier can keep your baby close while giving you your hands back to tackle a few things around the house.

Can a pacifier help during witching hour?

For babies who use pacifiers, sucking can be a comforting part of their routine. Keeping the pacifier close can make it easier to offer when your baby needs it.

What is the Ingy Bingy Band?

The Ingy Bingy Band is a buttery-soft pacifier wristband that Velcros around your baby's wrist and attaches to their pacifier. It helps keep the pacifier close instead of leaving you constantly searching for a dropped pacifier.

How can I make witching hour easier?

Keep your expectations low, simplify dinner, use a baby carrier when appropriate, offer familiar comfort tools like a pacifier, and don't be afraid to change the scenery. Sometimes the goal is simply to make it through the evening with everyone fed and loved.

 

 

The Ingy Bingy Band is not your everyday pacifier clip! This game-changing pacifier wristband helps babies self-soothe at a younger age than ever before! Instinctively, babies gnaw on their hands in an attempt to soothe. The Ingy Bingy pacifier wristband keeps their pacifier right where they’ll find it, allowing your baby to comfort and calm themselves while you do whatever it is you need to do!

Our buttery soft wristband comes in two styles to accommodate every pacifier.

Our Pacific style should be used when your baby’s pacifier holes are near their nose and chin when in use. It is most commonly used with Avent, BIBS, Dr. Brown’s, MAM, Nuby, NUK, Medela, FRIGG, Nanobébé, Tommee Tippee, and Chicco pacifiers. 

Our Sequoia style should be used when your baby’s pacifier holes are near their nose and chin when in use. It is most commonly used with Itzy Ritzy, Ryan & Rose, and The Dearest Grey pacifiers.  

If you are still unsure which pacifier wristband style is right for you, check out our style guide or text the name and/or picture of your preferred paci & we’ll let you know which style is right for you!